FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | AI must walk the ethical path US, Iran exchange fresh fire, threatening deal to end war Page 7 Page 6 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 July P shared interests in the IndoPacific and expanding economic complementarities. Describing the relationship as one built on deep mutual trust, Mr Modi said India and Australia shared the characteristics of being “two vibrant democracies, two multicultural societies, and two important ocean powers,” adding that their common worldview had enabled bilateral ties to grow at an unprecedented pace. “These shared characteristics, along with our common worldview, inspire us to move forward together with deep mutual trust,” the PM said, noting that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership had acquired new momentum over the past few years and that the latest summit had opened fresh avenues for collaboration. Mr Modi thanked Albanese for the warm welcome extended to the Indian delegation and praised his Australian counterpart’s personal commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. “His personal efforts and commitment have taken India-Australia relations to new heights and broadened their scope,” PM Modi remarked. Economic cooperation emerged as one of the principal pillars of the summit, with both countries agreeing to fast-track negotiations on the proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which is expected to significantly expand the gains achieved under the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) signed in 2022. “The Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement signed in 2022 has steadily expanded the scope of our trade and investment. We have now decided to expedite work on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which will be balanced, ambitious and beneficial for both countries,” Mr Modi said. • Related report: Page 5 India, Australia seal 18 landmark agreements to deepen strategic ties New Delhi, 9 July India and Australia on Thursday unveiled an expansive package of 18 strategic initiatives spanning defence, maritime security, civil nuclear cooperation, energy security, critical technologies, education, skills, scientific research and Page 12 Page 9 PMs Modi, Albanese chart new course for partnership STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Friday, 10 July 2026 ‘Not even FIFA president can influence referees’ WORLD EDITORIAL rime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday unveiled an ambitious agenda to elevate the IndiaAustralia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, announcing a wide-ranging set of initiatives covering trade, clean energy, nuclear cooperation, critical minerals, defence innovation, maritime security and emerging technologies, while reaffirming that the fight against terrorism remains a shared global responsibility demanding stronger international collaboration. Speaking at a joint Press conference after the Third India-Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne, the two leaders projected India and Australia as trusted strategic partners united by democratic values, | SPORTS PERSPECTIVE Terminal illness SILIGURI cultural heritage, significantly broadening the scope of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia. The wide-ranging outcomes were announced following the third India-Australia Annual Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne. The centrepiece of the announcements is the new Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation (JDDSC), which renews and expands the landmark 2009 Joint Declaration on Security. The updated framework charts an ambitious roadmap for defence collaboration by prioritising interoperability between the armed forces, capacity building, maritime cooperation, defence industrial partnerships, cyber security, emerging technologies, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and closer coordination in multilateral institutions including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Further reinforcing their maritime partnership, the two countries adopted a Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap (MSCR) to deepen information sharing, operational coordination and capa0 bility development across the Indo-Pacific. India and Australia also signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Coast Guard and Australia’s Maritime Border Command to enhance cooperation in maritime law enforcement, maritime domain awareness and border protection. Energy security emerged as another major pillar of the strengthened partnership. Both sides issued a Joint Statement on Energy Security reaffirming their shared commitment to ensuring secure, reliable and resilient energy supplies amid increasing geopolitical uncertainty. A major breakthrough was achieved with the finalisation of administrative arrangements under the India-Australia Civil Nuclear Agreement, operationalising the pact signed in 2014 and paving the way for the supply of Australian uranium to India. The development is expected to support India's expanding civil nuclear energy programme and contribute to its long-term clean energy transition. The two countries also operationalised the Rooftop Solar Training Academy at Pandit Deendayal Energy University in Gandhinagar. EAM meets Kuwait’s top leadership, discusses impact of Gulf conflict Maharashtra joins BJP states announcing UCC NIKHIL VYAS VIBHA SHARMA External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (EAM) held key talks with Kuwait’s top leadership, during which he reviewed the strategic partnership between both nations and also discussed the impact of the Gulf conflict on the region and beyond. Mr Jaishankar, who paid an official visit to Kuwait on Wednesday, called called on Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak AlSabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, and Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait. During the visit, the EAM held meetings with Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Minister of Defence and Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs. “The discussions provided Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday announced plans to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), adding Maharashtra to the growing list of BJP states aiming to implement a common civil law framework for all citizens. Fadnavis announced the formation of a sevenmember panel, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai, to draft the legislation, saying efforts will be made to introduce it in the Winter session. Uttarakhand is the first state after Independence to enact a UCC, followed by Gujarat and Assam. Other BJP-ruled states that have announced plans to implement a UCC include West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh New Delhi, 9 July New Delhi, 9 July an opportunity to review the India-Kuwait Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The EAM also interacted with members of the Indian community in Kuwait and appreciated their continued contribution towards further deepening the multifaceted India–Kuwait relationship, the statement added. On Wednesday, the EAM held talks with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on the impact of the Gulf conflict and reviewed bilateral cooperation across key sectors. and Chhattisgarh. The Uniform Civil Code refers to a common set of civil laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and succession irrespective of religion. Article 44 of the Constitution directs the state to endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for citizens, though it remains a Directive Principle and is not legally enforceable. The BJP’s state-by-state approach to implement the UCC is driven by constitutional, political and strategic considerations. States can legislate on personal laws under the Concurrent List, allowing the party to advance the policy without waiting for a nationwide law. Drafting and implementing a UCC raises practical questions on personal laws, exemptions and administration. State-level laws allow governments to test legal frameworks and administrative mechanisms before considering broader national legislation. Maharashtra’s decision to appoint an expert committee reflects this approach, say experts. “A nationwide UCC is more politically contentious because it affects all states and communities. The BJP’s NDA coalition includes regional parties that have expressed reservations, particularly over its impact on customary and tribal laws. Rolling it out in BJPruled states avoids some of those coalition pressures while keeping the issue alive,” explain party leaders. Suvendu vows to weed out ‘tout raj’ from state healthcare facilities STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 9 July Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday announced a series of measures to strengthen the state’s public healthcare system, including a crackdown on hospital touts, expansion of critical care infrastructure, improved security for health workers and enhanced facilities for patients and their families. The Chief Minister, who visited the state Health Department headquarters, Swasthya Bhavan, during the day, said a central control room has been established to monitor government hospitals across West Bengal and identify the presence of touts operating within hospital premises. “We have to remove the tout culture from hospitals," he said, adding that the control room would enable authorities to keep round-the-clock watch on hospitals and take prompt action against unscrupulous middlemen. Three former Trinamul Rajya Sabha MPs join BJP The Chief Minister also announced measures to improve the safety of doctors, nurses and other healthcare personnel. He said health workers would be issued identity badges to facilitate easier identification and strengthen security within hospitals. Sources said relatives of patients, kitchen workers and other peripheral staff at hospital will be issued colour-coded bands to help identify them. To bolster emergency medical services, Mr Adhikari announced the setting up of a 250-bed trauma care centre at the SSKM Hospital, saying sufficient land was available for the project. He also directed officials to construct covered aiting sheds for relatives accompanying patients at government hospitals, with each facility expected to cost around Rs 25 lakh. He said the bed strength at SSKM Hospital has already been increased by 100 and announced that around 250 more beds would be added as part of the proposed trauma care centre. “We plan to add around 250 more beds at the SSKM Hospital. This will be completed before Durga Puja,” Mr Adhikari said. The number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds would also be increased to 200 from the existing 112. Expressing concern over the condition of burn units, Mr Adhikari said specialised treatment infrastructure across the state’s hospitals required urgent improvement. “The burn units in our state are a bit weak. There are only 60 beds at the SSKM burn unit. We need better doctors and better facilities at the burn units across state-run hospitals. I realised this from my experience after the under-construction warehouse collapsed in Taratala. Our existing health facilities will face a challenging time and will not be able to handle the situation in case of a big calamity or accident,” he said. Referring to private healthcare, the Chief Minister alleged that no new private healthcare unit had come up in Bengal in the past 15 years when the Trinamul Congress was in power. During the Left Front regime, land had been allotted to private hospitals at a token price of Re 1 on the condition that 15 per cent of their beds would be reserved free of cost for poor patients, but the provision had not been effectively implemented. “We have managed to ensure that 10 per cent of beds are now available for poor,” he said. (Photo by Biswajit Ghoshal) Amit Shah to launch Amul’s mega dairy project in Howrah on 18 July STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 9 July Three former Trinamul Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha members ~ Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik ~ formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday in the presence of the party’s state president Samik Bhattacharya and general secretary Sashi Agnihotri. Mr Roy resigned from the Rajya Sabha and the TMC on 8 June, followed by Ms Deb on 10 June and Mr Baraik on 11 June. All three had been elected to the Upper House on TMC tickets and quit the party amid the turmoil following its defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections. While the terms of Mr Roy and Mr Baraik were due to run until 8 August 2029, Ms Deb's tenure was scheduled to end on 2 April 2030. Neither Mr Bhattacharya, nor the three former MPs, clarified whether they would be the BJP's nominees for the ensuing Rajya Sabha by-elections, scheduled for 24 July. The BJP is widely expected to win all three seats, with the Trinamul Congress unlikely to field candidates for the bypolls If the BJP secures all three seats, its strength in the 245-member Rajya Sabha will increase from 114 to 117, taking the NDA's tally to 155 ~ nine short of the two-thirds mark of 164. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 9 July Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to lay the foundation stone for Amul’s mega dairy processing plant at Sankrail Food Park in Howrah on 18 July, marking one of the biggest industrial investment announcements in West Bengal since the BJP government assumed office. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and industries minister Tapas Roy are expected to attend the event. The proposed unit was originally scheduled to be inaugurated on 13 June in the presence of Mr Shah. However, the programme was deferred, with neither the company nor the state government issuing any clarification on the reason behind the postponement. The project is now set to be formally launched on 18 July. The dairy processing plant, being set up by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets products under the Amul brand, is part of the company’s expansion plans in eastern India. The project will involve an investment of around Rs 600-700 crore and will come up at the Sankrail Food Park in Howrah. The location has been chosen for its strategic connectivity. Situated near the junction of National Highway-16 and National Highway-19, with access to Kolkata Port and the rail network, the facility will be able to efficiently supply products across West Bengal as well as Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and the north-eastern states. The plant will have the capacity to process 1.5 million litres of milk per day. According to Amul, it is expected to become the world’s largest curd manufacturing facility, producing nearly one million kilograms of curd and other fermented dairy products daily. Besides milk and curd, the unit will manufacture sweet curd, lassi, paneer, butter, ghee and ice cream. The project is also expected to benefit dairy farmers in West Bengal by providing a stable market and remunerative prices for milk procurement.